The aim of this research was (1) to provide empirical data of learning potential and English language proficiency for work performance; (2) to establish whether race and gender influence work performance; (3) to evaluate practical utility and to propose recommendations for selection purposes. The Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test and the English Literacy Skills Assessment were used as measuring instruments to measure learning potential and English language proficiency respectively. Work performance data were obtained from the normal performance data system of the company where the research was conducted. ANOVA results showed differences between race and gender groupings. A regression analysis confirmed the predictive validity of learning potential and English language proficiency on work performance. The Spearman rho correlation coefficient (p < 0.05) showed a significant positive correlation between the investigated variables / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Owing to past injustices, the South African higher education sector is characterised by inequalities of resource allocation and of learning opportunities. Through the National Qualification Framework (NQF), recognition of prior learning (RPL) was established to address the previous inequalities in higher education and training. RPL can be used as a mechanism to offer non-traditional learners such as workers, adult learners, and community workers access to learning programmes in Library and Information Science (LIS) schools. It can also be used for up-skilling within LIS sector, to enable staff to migrate from paraprofessional to professional roles. LIS schools could possibly use this approach to offer experienced but unqualified library workers opportunities for progressive professional development and career growth. Despite it being a national policy and its obvious benefits, very little is known about RPL implementation in LIS schools in South Africa. This study was conducted to investigate the nature of RPL implementation in LIS schools in South Africa and make recommendations for effective and efficient RPL practice in these schools. The study used the questionnaire as the main data collection tool. In addition, document analysis was used to validate the collected data. The results of the study indicated that there were islands of good RPL practice in LIS schools in South Africa specifically with regard to the aspect of RPL assessment process. However, certain weaknesses were identified in other aspects of RPL implementation in LIS schools including the policy environment, training of personnel conducting RPL assessment and the quality management systems. Among other things, the study recommends that RPL quality management system (QMS) should ideally be driven by the head/chair of the school/department. Furthermore, an integrated student management system should be used to monitor the progression of RPL candidates through the formal academic system post RPL. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Work process knowledge (WPK) is a concept for systems-level knowledge of the workplace and has been shown to be most important in organisations requiring multi-functional working. Most of the previous body of knowledge on WPK has focussed mainly on manufacturing industries; there has been less investigation of WPK in the service sector and none in the visitor attraction (VA) industry, an important employer in Scotland. The VA industry is extremely dynamic and many businesses are rapidly moving towards multi-functional team working, driven by an urgent need to develop quality, customer-focussed strategies to survive in an over-supplied and very competitive market. This study identifies the nature of WPK in Scottish VAs, what relationship WPK has to customer service, how WPK in this service sector differs from selected published studies in manufacturing and other service sector contexts and what factors affect the development of WPK in VAs. Following recruitment of a number of VAs using an online questionnaire and subsequent site visits, six sites were selected for case study, on the basis that they demonstrated most evidence of multi-functional working and staff with developed WPK. The research design was comparative case studies of the work processes and knowledge within these six VAs, based on a social constructivist framework, using the methods of key informant interviews and shadowing. Although these six sites represent a cross-spread of attractions in terms of types, location and size, they nonetheless show strong similarities in their basic business structure. The data show that WPK is an essential element of workers’ roles and a vital requirement in providing good customer service. Although VA managers do not use the term ‘work process knowledge’, they nonetheless recognise the importance of having staff with a wider view of their business and are actively encouraging its rapid development. Multi-functionality and job rotation are main ways of developing WPK but sites also use key workers with job roles that help develop high levels of WPK, who are then used as a staff resource. The main factor contributing to the development of WPK is communication, especially of systems-level information. Cultural information-sharing is an essential pre-condition for the development of WPK in this context. Other determining factors are flexibility, employee biographies, seasonality issues, how weddings and functions are handled on-site and the size and complexity of the site. WPK is the foundation on which good customer service is based and elements of it deliver customer service. It is the closely integrated nature of the employee-customer relationship that has such a profound effect on WPK development in this service sector industry and is essentially what differentiates it from previously published studies. The identification of the customer as a hitherto unrecognised key driver of WPK is the most important contribution to knowledge made by this work.

This study captures the transformation of a research methodology module and the workplace learning resulting from teaching research to senior police officers. Using ethnography, the study explores the initial development and transformation of the research module content and the ways in which the police trainers developed their practices to teach research methodology in the regulated police work environment. Through interviews, observations, document analyses and an ethnographic essay, the researcher uncovers the experiences and construction of knowledge at a SAPS Academy where research was taught and in the workplace during the ensuing experiential learning. The study revealed how the research module evolved through compensations made for shortcomings in the initial design. This was done by addressing changing organisational expectations and responding to specific needs of the adult learners. The trainers subsequently adapted their teaching approaches to cater for the specific needs of the learners and the organisation. At the same time, they also protected the reputation of the organisation and the integrity of the research module. The findings indicate that informal learning, constructed unintentionally, was more prominent in the workplace than the intended development of research skills. Evidence suggested that learning is indeed reliant on personal agency and that learning in communities of practice is very effective for the community. However, culture can become a barrier to learning when newcomers resist entry into such community or when its sub-culture conflicts with that of the bigger organisation. These experiences and lessons enabled the construction of a new three-phased research teaching model for organisations that wish to inculcate research as a problem–solving mechanism. The study has implications for policy-makers and educators as it emphasises the need to understand the theory of workplace learning and the necessity of making a deliberate effort to support learning in the workplace. When learning is not supported, employees develop undesirable skills to cope with the pressure of having to work and learn simultaneously. The study contributes to the existing knowledge of workplace theory, ethnographic research in police settings and research teaching pedagogy. The study highlights the need for further exploration of knowledge construction in communities of practice in regulated work environments where sub-cultures are in conflict with the organisational culture. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

The task of the dissertation is an analyse and a summary of problematic of increasing and widespreading of training in the concrete enterprise. The starting point for analyse is the finding out of the basic indicators. The analyses of all system connected with this problematic is followed by the assessment of the found data from the area of education -including improving and widespreading of training , personal planning and care of emploeeyes. Along with all above mentioned , the target of my dissertation is to make some suggestion and to take some measures for possible changes connected with education or social issues. The result of this survey is an improving suggestion related to assessment of effectivness of the gained knowledge - and their using in practice. I have made two assessment forms (they have form of survey) . The next part of my dissertation considers about the state policy of employment. There is (except of role of Labour Bureau, tools of active policy of employment, information about programmes for support of new labour places) also a mention about the financial state support. For this task (and for meeting of each of these targets) I have chosen the enterprise with headquarters in České Budějovice, called Jihočeská plynárenská, joint stock company.

This study investigated the development and implementation of methods and procedures as generic administrative function, with specific reference to issuing drivers licences in the Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Municipality. The contribution of the study to the discipline, Public Administration, is found in the basic framework for the development of standard operating procedures. Furthermore, a set of standard operating procedures to issue drivers licences was developed. In essence, the systems theory inspired the design of the basic framework for the development of standard operating procedures, while the phases of the ADDIE instructional design model simplified the drafting of the standardised procedures to issue drivers licences. Although the empirical data collection commenced with a quantitative research methodology, a qualitative dimension was required to fully understand the problem why the Driving Licence Testing Centre at the Madibeng Municipality lacks contemporary and relevant standard operating procedures to issue drivers licences. A mixed methods research design was eventually adopted to explore the phenomenon because a second research method was needed to strengthen the primary research method. Data was initially collected through a questionnaire, and follow-up personal interviews were conducted to clarify issues that were not responded to or unclear from the self-administered questionnaires. This conforms to pragmatism - the research philosophy adopted for this study because predetermined research questions dictated the path towards realising the research objectives. Since this study utilised a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research designs, the research methodology was shaped by various strategies, techniques and data collection instruments, such as literature reviews, document analyses to draft the standardised procedures, case study (Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Municipality), a structured questionnaire and semi-structured personal interviews. In this study, the administrative generic function of determining and revision of methods and procedures was referred to as ‘methods and procedures’. Within the context of Public Administration, the study revealed that methods and procedures specify the sequence, processes and techniques necessary to execute certain actions and operations during service delivery. Moreover, it states how tasks must be exercised within the public sector, as well as indicate who must take action. Consequently, methods and procedures are built into all public service activities, regardless whether these are administrative, functional or auxiliary activities. It was concluded that methods and procedures form an indispensable part of any public institution’s activities. However, the study focused on methods and procedures to issue drivers licences at the Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Municipality. The study realised its overall aim when recommendations were made to the Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Municipality of how to develop and implement standard operating procedures to issue drivers licences. In essence, it was recommended that the basic framework for the development of standard operating procedures be applied when updating and/or developing methods and procedures. Moreover, it was recommended that the set of newly developed standard operating procedures be adopted and implemented. It was also suggested, amongst other proposals, that the management and the staff at the Centre engage from the initial stages in the procedure development process, that clear steps and instructions of how to reach organisational short-term objectives, be specified, and caution be taken by the Madibeng Municipality against the implementation of an overly multifaceted internal control system at its Driving Licence Testing Centre. / Department of Public Administration and Management / D.Admin. (Public Administration)

This study sought to determine the impact of a training and development (T&D) programme on the perceived performance of human resource assistants at a platinum mine in South Africa according to the following four performance dimensions: (i) personal (ii) customer; (iii) internal business; and (iv) learning and growth. A non-experimental design was used for this study, which was predominately quantitative in nature. Data was collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire, which consisted of closed-ended questions. Based on the results obtained in this study, it was apparent that the T&D programme contributed significantly to an increase in the performance of employees. However, there are certain areas that can be improved in order to maximise and optimise the learning of employees. Recommendations were made regarding areas for improvement and possible future research. / Human Resource Management / M. Tech. (Human Resources Development)

Text in Afrikaans / Die uitsluitlike doel van die studie was om die navorsingsprobleem, naamlik om vas te stel op watter wyse die leierskapstyl van opleidingsbestuurders die werksbevrediging van opleidingskonsultante beïnvloed wat volwassene-onderwys binne ʼn bepaalde bankgroep in Suid-Afrika verskaf, aan te spreek. Die navorser het bepaalde leierskapstyle (naamlik die demokratiese-, outokratiese- en laissez-faire leierskapstyle) en werksbevredigingskomponente geselekteer (naamlik ondersteuning, verhoudings en bemagtiging) ten einde dié ondersoek te doen. ʼn Vraelys is ontwerp wat as kwantitatiewe navorsingsinstrument gebruik is om navorsingsdata elektronies te versamel oor respondente se biografiese besonderhede, hulle bestuurder se leierskapstyl en respondente se persepsies van hul eie werksbevrediging. Een-en-negentig (91) uit eenhonderd sewe-en-dertig (137) respondente het die vraelys per e-pos voltooi, wat ʼn responskoers van 66.42% verteenwoordig. Uit die navorsingsresultate en -analise het dit geblyk dat leierskapstyl wél die persepsies van respondente oor elk van die werksbevredigingskomponente statisties beduidend beïnvloed het. / The sole aim of this study was to address the research problem, namely to determine the way in which the leadership style of training managers influences the work satisfaction of training consultants that provide adult education within a specific bank group in South Africa. The researcher selected specific leadership styles for the purpose of thís study (namely the democratic, outocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles) and work satisfaction components (namely support, relationships and empowerment) to carry out thís investigation. A questionnaire was designed which was used as quantitive research instrument to gather research data electronically about respondents’ biographical details, their manager’s leadership style and the perceptions of respondents regarding their own work satisfaction. Ninety-one (91) out of one-hundred-and-thirty-seven (137) respondents completed the questionnaire by email, which represents a response rate of 66.42%. Out of the research and analysis results it became evident that leadership style indeed influenced the perceptions of respondents over each of the work satisfaction components in a statistically significant way. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Volwassene-onderwys)

Nas Normas Brasileiras de Contabilidade Aplicadas ao Setor Público encontra-se a NBC T 16.11, que visa estabelecer a utilização do Sistema de Informações de Custos no Setor Público (SICSP), em que, pela Portaria no 753/2012 do STN, definiu- se que a sua implantação deveria ocorrer até o final de 2014. Neste contexto, é imprescindível conhecer quais as dificuldades e expectativas que os atores envolvidos nesse processo de implantação possuem e qual a contribuição do SICSP para o desenvolvimento local. Com efeito, este trabalho tem por norte discutir: Qual a percepção dos usuários sobre a importância do Sistema de Informações de Custos no Setor Público para a gestão e desenvolvimento municipal? Assim, para iniciar a discussão, colocou-se como objetivo geral do estudo investigar a percepção dos responsáveis pela implantação do SICSP, quanto à sua contribuição como ferramenta de Gestão e Planejamento para o Desenvolvimento dos respectivos Municípios. A pesquisa se utilizou do questionário como instrumento de coleta de dados em campo. A metodologia da análise de dados aplicada ao questionário se valeu da análise univariada e com o auxílio do teste qui-quadrado, utilizou-se também a análise bivariada. Demonstra-se, por meio da pesquisa de campo, aliada ao referencial teórico, alicerçado pelas pesquisas bibliográfica e documental que, findado o prazo legal de implantação, grande parte dos respondentes ainda não concluíram o processo, mesmo entendendo que o SICSP contribui significativamente para a gestão e desenvolvimento do município. Como resultado e conclusão, nota- se, que há uma carência de pessoal qualificado tecnicamente para a implantação e utilização do SICSP bem como se salienta ainda que o quantitativo de pessoal é insuficiente em muitos dos casos pesquisados. / Norm T16.11 of the Brazilian Accounting Norms (Normas Brasileiras de Contabilidade - NBC), regulated through Law regulation no. 753/2012 of the National Treasury Department, is applied to the Public Sector and provides rules for the Public Sector Cost Information System determining that its implantation should have been effective until the end of 2014. In such context, it is indispensable to know the difficulties and expectations facing the people involved in the implantation process, as well as the Public Sector Cost Information System contribution to local development. Thus, the present work aims at discussing if users understand the importance of the Public Sector Cost Information System to municipal management and development. The study general objective is to investigate if people in charge of implanting the Public Sector Cost Information System see it as a management and planning tool to help municipality development. The study field research methodology used questionnaires as data collection tool. Data analysis= was performed using univariate analysis with the help of chi-squared test and bivariate analysis. Based on the field research, that was associated to a theoretical referential and to bibliographic and documental researches, we inferred that although the legal implantation term have expired, most of the interviewed have not yet completed the process, even though they understood that the Public Sector Cost Information System contributes significantly to improve municipality management and development. The study conclusion is that there is a lack of technically qualified personnel to implant and use the Public Sector Cost Information System. We also highlight that in most of the study cases personnel qualification is unsatisfactory.

Nas Normas Brasileiras de Contabilidade Aplicadas ao Setor Público encontra-se a NBC T 16.11, que visa estabelecer a utilização do Sistema de Informações de Custos no Setor Público (SICSP), em que, pela Portaria no 753/2012 do STN, definiu- se que a sua implantação deveria ocorrer até o final de 2014. Neste contexto, é imprescindível conhecer quais as dificuldades e expectativas que os atores envolvidos nesse processo de implantação possuem e qual a contribuição do SICSP para o desenvolvimento local. Com efeito, este trabalho tem por norte discutir: Qual a percepção dos usuários sobre a importância do Sistema de Informações de Custos no Setor Público para a gestão e desenvolvimento municipal? Assim, para iniciar a discussão, colocou-se como objetivo geral do estudo investigar a percepção dos responsáveis pela implantação do SICSP, quanto à sua contribuição como ferramenta de Gestão e Planejamento para o Desenvolvimento dos respectivos Municípios. A pesquisa se utilizou do questionário como instrumento de coleta de dados em campo. A metodologia da análise de dados aplicada ao questionário se valeu da análise univariada e com o auxílio do teste qui-quadrado, utilizou-se também a análise bivariada. Demonstra-se, por meio da pesquisa de campo, aliada ao referencial teórico, alicerçado pelas pesquisas bibliográfica e documental que, findado o prazo legal de implantação, grande parte dos respondentes ainda não concluíram o processo, mesmo entendendo que o SICSP contribui significativamente para a gestão e desenvolvimento do município. Como resultado e conclusão, nota- se, que há uma carência de pessoal qualificado tecnicamente para a implantação e utilização do SICSP bem como se salienta ainda que o quantitativo de pessoal é insuficiente em muitos dos casos pesquisados. / Norm T16.11 of the Brazilian Accounting Norms (Normas Brasileiras de Contabilidade - NBC), regulated through Law regulation no. 753/2012 of the National Treasury Department, is applied to the Public Sector and provides rules for the Public Sector Cost Information System determining that its implantation should have been effective until the end of 2014. In such context, it is indispensable to know the difficulties and expectations facing the people involved in the implantation process, as well as the Public Sector Cost Information System contribution to local development. Thus, the present work aims at discussing if users understand the importance of the Public Sector Cost Information System to municipal management and development. The study general objective is to investigate if people in charge of implanting the Public Sector Cost Information System see it as a management and planning tool to help municipality development. The study field research methodology used questionnaires as data collection tool. Data analysis= was performed using univariate analysis with the help of chi-squared test and bivariate analysis. Based on the field research, that was associated to a theoretical referential and to bibliographic and documental researches, we inferred that although the legal implantation term have expired, most of the interviewed have not yet completed the process, even though they understood that the Public Sector Cost Information System contributes significantly to improve municipality management and development. The study conclusion is that there is a lack of technically qualified personnel to implant and use the Public Sector Cost Information System. We also highlight that in most of the study cases personnel qualification is unsatisfactory.